Planeteer Narrative #3 part 5

       This chapter is dedicated to the bonnie Southern girl - At each social gathering/ a flowing glass I'll raise/ and drink a health to me Creole girl/ from the lakes of Pontchartrain.

        Kwame used his ring to drop his earthen tower back to the ground, while Mia handed Wheeler back his jacket. As Wheeler put it back on, there was suddenly a gleeful, fiendish laugh. Their robed associate was back, floating above the treetops. "Welcome to my dimension, Ronin Warriors," Lord Terave leered. And - whoever you people are," he added, looking at the Planeteers. "How are you enjoying the weather?" He gestured at the sky, and suddenly, instead of rain, grapefruit-sized rocks fell from the sky. Screaming, everyone ran for the trees, which the rocks weren't penetrating.
        Ryo shouted, "Ronin Warriors, to arms!" The Ronins obeyed and made sure the Planeteers got into the protection of the trees; the Ronin armors protected them from the falling rocks.
        As they reached the trees, Wheeler looked back and gasped. Linka was stuck in the middle of the meadow. He could see her foot was in some kind of animal hole, and she looked terrified. Without hesitation, Wheeler ran out to where she was. She looked at him. "What are you doing?" He just smiled, then stood in front of her, using his ring to destroy or deflect all the rocks that came their way.
        The black-clad villain watched this scene with amusement. "You all seem quite hesitant to die. All right, Ronins, I'll make you a deal. If you can make me retreat, I will open a portal for you to return to your world. You lose, and you all forfeit your lives to me. Hey, that was pretty menacing. I'll have to remember that for later."
        As he rummaged in his pocket for paper to write his threat down on, the Ronins looked at each other, and then at the Planeteers and Mia. "We'd be gambling with your lives-" started Ryo, but Mia silenced him.
        "You do what you have to do."
        Ma-Ti added, "Besides, you're going to have to fight him, one way or another. Just fight hard."
        Ryo looked around as everyone nodded in silence. "Okay, let's go then."
        As the five walked by, Mia approached Ryo. "Be careful out there," she said, pleadingly. Ryo looked down at her and started to smile, then stopped himself and walked away. Mia watched him in anguish. What is wrong? she cried inwardly. Gi put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and they watched the Ronins go out to fight.
        "All right, ugly, we'll fight you!" shouted Kento.
        "Good," Terave answered, stopping the rocks that were over the Ronins' heads. "This should be interesting." He pulled a long, curved sword out of a sheath on his back. "I think you'll like this one, Ronin Warriors. It's called the Nebula Scimitar, and it's really quite deadly. Now, shall we begin?"
        He held the scimitar (short curved sword, for those of you who are wondering) above his head. It began to gather energy from the surrounding air. "Nebula Scimitar, Celestial Orb Smite!" From the scimitar flew what looked like an energy ball. Everyone ducked except Kento, who pulled out his staff and hit the orb like a baseball. It exploded, but Kento's armor protected him. All he got was some scorch marks. Lord Terave stared. "How - how could you do that?"
        "Luck?" asked a dazed Kento. The other guys laughed, and Cye went to check if he was okay.
        Turning back to their foe, Rowan pulled out his bow and started shooting arrows. Terave managed to dodge most of them, but one hit his Nebula Scimitar and knocked it out of his hand. The arrow had gone straight through it. The scimitar hung in the air for a long moment, then cracked and exploded, taking several of the falling rocks with it.
        The dark figure turned back to them in anger. "That's three weapons you've destroyed, not to mention my trees! ARRRRGH!!" He started to rush towards them, and was hit by one of his own rocks. "Owie!"
        Cye shouted, "Super Wave Smasher!"
        At the same time, Sage shouted, "Thunderbolt Cut!" The attacking shafts of water and lightning raced towards Terave, who saw them coming and jumped up to avoid them. However, when the two attacks collided directly below him, they sent up a hissing cloud of steam that burnt him rather badly.
        As the robed character hopped around, rubbing his legs, Ryo let off a "Flare Up Now!" It hit their opponent dead on, but unfortunately didn't destroy him.
        In the middle of the meadow, Wheeler was still trying to protect Linka. She was confused. It was not like Wheeler to be so noble, to put himself in danger when it was unnecessary. Linka knew she could have protected herself, and she was pretty sure Wheeler knew that. Then what was he doing? She had to admit, it was nice to have him so concerned about her. She was enjoying the close contact as he stood next to her, occasionally turning to see how she was. She felt rather silly for enjoying herself so much.
        Suddenly, she realized what she was doing. What are you thinking, Linka? she asked herself. She used her ring to open a clear path to the woods, then wrenched her foot out of the hole. Then she turned to Wheeler. "I can take care of myself, thank you!" She turned and walked away.
        He watched her go in astonishment. What is she doing? he thought. He could have sworn she'd been smiling at him earlier. That was a good sign, wasn't it? As he stood, confused, there was a sharp pain on his back, and he promptly passed out.
        Back in the woods, Linka turned in time to see a confused Wheeler watching her. Then, a large rock hit his back and knocked him to the ground. She gasped and ran back to him, using her wind power to protect him. "You guys, come on! Wheeler needs help!"
        Gasping and barely able to move, Lord Terave opened two portals. "You big meanie-heads!" Then he realized what he was saying. Clearing his throat, he said, "All right, Ronins, you win this time. But next time, I shall triumph!" He floated himself through one portal and it disappeared. The rocks stopped falling.
        Linka was at Wheeler's side in tears. Mia ran up and checked him over. "He's all right, Linka. Don't worry. We just need to get him some rest."
        The Ronins walked over. Ryo saw Mia carefully checking Wheeler's pulse, then brushing his red hair out of his eyes. Trying not to show his anger, he said, "What now, Mia?"
        "Can you guys try to get him on his back?" she asked. In answer, he and Kwame carefully turned Wheeler over.
        As they all knelt over him, he opened his eyes. "Whoa..." Linka burst into tears and grabbed Wheeler around the neck in a tight hug. "Ouch, ouch - OUCH!!"
        "Sorry, Wheeler!" gasped Linka, turning away so he wouldn't realize how worried she'd been about him.
        As they all laughed and enjoyed the now rainless sky, there was suddenly a loud rumbling noise. Ma-ti looked around warily. "What was that?" he asked.
        Kento looked down, then back up and grinned. "My stomach! It must be past noon!"
        Everyone laughed. "All right, Kento, we can get some lunch," laughed Sage. "But first..." Approaching Wheeler carefully, Sage used his armor of Halo to heal him as best he could. Then he stood. "All we can do now is get him home."
        The three girls made an impromptu stretcher out of Kento's staff, Cye's trident, and the four other Planeteers' vests. Then Rowan, Kento, Kwame and Ryo placed Wheeler on it and carried it through the portal. The rest followed, including Ma-Ti's monkey, which showed up at the last minute. Ma-Ti hugged it tightly, then walked through the portal.
        It dropped them off at Mia's house, where they were enthusiastically greeted by a frantic White Blaze. This was all fine and well, except that Mia's jeep was still in Toyama. So, after depositing Wheeler on Sage's extra bed, they discussed how to get it back.
        Kwame said, "Simple. We will fly our plane out to near Toyama, then some of us can fly it back while the others go to get the car. We have to refuel anyway, and they sell the kind of fuel we need in Takaoka."
        This was agreed, and then came the debate on who should go and who should stay. Mia said, "I have to stay, to look after Wheeler and research Grandfather's notes," at which Ryo fumed.
        Gi said, "I am tired, and I would like to stay here, if that is all right."
        Kwame replied, "Of course. After all, we only have five seats in the plane."
        Cye looked up. If she's staying, so am I. "I've got some things to do here," he said. "I think I'll stay."
        Ryo nodded as Mia suppressed a giggle and Gi rubbed her nose. Sage also said he would like to stay, as he wanted to do some meditating.
        Kwame broke in and asked, "Who will pilot the plane? Me or Linka?"
        "Yeah, and who will drive Mia's car?" asked Rowan.
        Mia considered her friends carefully. "Well, not Kento, and I think Ryo lost his temper and broke my mirror last time, so... Rowan! Would you like to drive my jeep?"
        "I'd love to," he chuckled over his friends' objections.
        Kwame looked up. "I will pilot the plane, and Ma-Ti can help me refuel. Kento, Ryo, and Rowan can drive the jeep home." That was agreed, and they all settled down to lunch, prepared by Cye and Mia.

        After lunch, the plane took off, carrying the already-book immersed Rowan, the jealous Ryo, the sulky Ma-Ti, the hungry Kento, and the oblivious Kwame. As he flew the plane, Kwame thought to himself, These Ronins are not as bad as I had thought, but we should get them to use fluorescent bulbs.
        Back at her mansion, Mia took Linka and Gi with her to give Wheeler lunch. He had fallen back asleep. As they left, Mia noticed White Blaze, guarding Wheeler on the floor, looking at her long-sufferingly. She laughed. "Don't worry; I'll send you up some food."
        Back in the kitchen, Gi went to wash her hair and Linka went to read in Mia's room. Before Mia left to go to her study and work on her grandfather's research notes, she asked Sage to give White Blaze lunch. Obligingly, Sage entered his dark, tiger and injured boy-filled room with food for the tiger. After giving it to White Blaze, he scratched his ears for a while, then turned to go. However, he was cut short by Wheeler's voice, calling to him.
        Sage sat on his own bed, watching the Planeteer. "Yes?"
        Wheeler looked at him, then looked away, embarrassed. "Ummm, you know, today, in the car, and you were, ummm, you know, like, there, and umm, you and Linka, and you were, you know-"
        Sage turned to him, amused, and said perfectly seriously, "No, I don't know."
        "Oh, forget it!" Wheeler replied.
        Sage smiled and walked to the door, where he turned around and said, "No, I don't intend to pursue Linka. You can have her - after all, you do seem to be rather in love with her."
        Wheeler looked at him, indignant. "What? Who, me? No, never, of course not."
        Sage just laughed. "Are you going to tell her?" Wheeler just looked at him. Sage cocked an eyebrow. "Should I tell her for you?"
        Wheeler grabbed the pillow from behind his head and threw it at the blonde boy, who laughed again and left the room. Wheeler sighed. Of all the stupid - but, even he had to admit to himself that he'd considered the possibility before. He shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep, scratching his nose.

        In the Planeteers' plane, Ryo stared out the window. Of course she'd want to stay back. She has to help her precious Wheeler.
        Rowan noticed his stormy countenance and hesitantly asked, "Is something wrong, Ryo?"
        Ryo didn't look up. "Nothing."
        Kento, behind him, leaned forward. "You sure, man?"
        Ryo sighed, and glanced around the plane to make sure the two Planeteers weren't listening. He needn't have worried. Kwame and Ma-Ti were deeply absorbed in Kwame's new CD: "Duane Ketter and his Wildlife Technicians". Track number one: Grow Organic.
        Ryo turned back to his friends. "It's just that - that-"
        "That what?" asked Rowan.
        "That - Mia is spending so much time with Wheeler!" Ryo blurted, embarrassed.
        Kento stared at Ryo. "Are you jealous, Ryo?" He and Rowan looked at each other, then burst out laughing.
        Rowan looked at Ryo in amused wonder. "So you really do like Mia? All this time I thought Sage was just trying to pull one over on us!"
        Ryo glared at his laughing friends, and they sat back, trying to hide their grins. Over the speakers, Duane Ketter was singing, "Always remember\ pesticides will bring\ you nothing but pain."
        Rowan got control of his laughter and said to Ryo, "So you seriously do. Who'd have thunk?" Ryo clenched his fists, glowering at the back of the seat.
        "What does she see in him? He's half her age!" Kento snorted.
        "He's not half her age," Rowan added thoughtfully, "and are you sure she is interested in him? Those may have been all chance. Why don't you ask her?"
        Ryo furrowed his eyebrows. Dare he?

        Linka, on her cot, was reading "WordPerfect Suite 8 for Dummies." Hearing a crash from another room, she got up and walked towards the sound. She found Mia, sitting at her computer, glaring angrily at the book she had just thrown at the wall. "Nothing! There's nothing on this guy, or his weapons. He's definitely not a minion of Talpa." She sighed and closed her eyes, massaging her temples. "Linka? Who might you want to revenge?"
        Linka thought about it a moment. "A long time ago, people would avenge the deaths of family members: brothers, fathers, things like that."
        Mia's head popped up. "You know, that just might be it!" She turned back to her computer and started typing furiously. Without looking up, she called, "Linka, would you check on Wheeler?" Linka assented and walked out of the room.
        In the dim light of Sage's room, Wheeler was sleeping peacefully on the extra bed. Linka knelt by his bed, watching him. She put her hand on his shoulder and used her other hand to brush his hair out of his eyes. "I am so sorry, Wheeler," she whispered to the silence. She stood and turned to go, then turned back and kissed him softly on the forehead. Then, she walked out of the room.
        As the door closed, Wheeler sat up and grinned. "Score!"

        As the plane landed, and the three Ronins got out, Kwame leaned out the window and shouted, "We will see you back at the house in a few hours!"
        "Auf wiedersehn!" called Rowan.
        Kento looked confused. "What?"
        Rowan just sighed and shook his head. Then the three Ronins left to find Mia's jeep and begin the long drive home.

Part 6